Trolley retriever



A. C. VAN HOOYDONK.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER.

APPLICATION man 050.18, |919.

1,404,248. Panted Jan. 24,1922.

7 Mur@ l F15-1I- 4/40 7,333B

' C rip :eef J 26 s JO 23 INVENTDQ UNITED STATES ADRIAN C. VAN HOOYDONK,OF CANTON, OHIO.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

Application filed December 18, 1919. Serial No. 345,705.

To al? whom t may conce/rn.'

Be it known that I, ADRIAN C. VAN Hoor- DoNK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, having taken out the lirst papers, and a resident of Canton, inthe county of Stark and State of hio, have invented acertain new anduseful Trolley Retriever; and I do hereby declare the ollowingto be afull, clear, and exact description ot' the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,` and to thecharacters of lreference marked thereon7 which form a part of thisspecification.. f

yMy invention has for its Vobject to automatically retrieve the trolleywheel and pole commonly used in connection with electric v railwaysystems for making electric connection between the car and the overheadwire. TheY invention particularly has for vits object to provide' ameans that will prevent the destructive action produced by a trolleypolewhen the contact wheel jumps the wire. This destructive' action isgenerally caused by the pole striking the cross supporting wires oroverlianging wire brackets. constructions containing my invent-ion thetrolley pole will, immediately upon the trolley wheel leaving, the wire,drop to asafe position Well below the wire and any cross supportingwires or bars.

elevating meansV for raising the pole and maintaining contact againstthe wire.

The invention may be contained in structures of different forms and suchstructures mayvary in details of construction and yet such structureswill contain my invention. For the purpose of illustrating a practicalapplication of my invention I have selected one of such structuresembodying my invention and shall describe it hereinafter. The structureselected is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1. of the drawings illustrates a top l view of the trolley poleand mechanism for operating' the same. Fig. 2 illustrates a side view otthe structure illustrated in Fig. l. Fig. 3 illustrates a side view ofthe structure, the parts lof the mechanism being shown in position afterthe trolley has dropper to a safe position beneath the overe head wire.Fig. l illustrates the position InV Means is also provided by myinvention for restoring thel of the mechanism vwhen the trolley Wheelhas jumped the wire.

l, Fig. 2, is a supporting sleeve for the trolley poleand itscontrollingmechanimn. It may be secured to the top of acar by anysuitable means such as the flange 2 which may be bolted to the car.. Thesleeve l supports a frame 3 to whichv isconnected a pin 4 that lits thesleeve 1. By this arrangement the frame 3 and the' pole which isconnected therewith maybe rotated, the pin rotating Within the sleeve l.Longitudinal vertical movement of the pin 4 may be prevented by anysuitable means boltor rod 5 that extends through the sleeve l and asuitable channel in the pin 4. The means for securing the pin 4 in thesleeve l from vertical movements and yet so as to permit the rotativemovementsl may* be varied, the above being merely illustrative of amethod for thus securing the pin. 4.

'The frame 3 is provided with a pair of lugs 6 to which the frame 7which supports the pole 8 is pivoted. The frame 7 is provided With aplurality of arm's 9 arranged preferably in pairs to which are pivotallyconnected by means ofthe boltslO, the adjustable links l1. The olf-threeparts, 'the ends thereof being connected by a right and lett handthreadedbar or pin-'12 in each case. The lengths ofthe links 11 thus maybe varied by rotation of the bar-l2. Suitable locking pins or nuts maybe provided for securing the threaded pins or bars 12 in their adjustedposition.

The links 11 are connected to links 13 by means of bolts 14. The links13 are connected to arms l5, which, with the arms 16 form bell cranklevers. They are keyed to the shaft 17 which is supported in a housing'18.

The housing or frame 3 is provided with a bar 19 that extends into thehousing 18. The shaft 17 is provided with a gear wheel 20 that mesheswith a rack 2l formed on the bar 19. Rotation of the gear wheel 2Ocauses the housing'lS to move along the bai' 19. In order to maintainthe proper relation between the gear wheel 20 and the bar 19 and toreduce the friction of the movement of the housing relative to the bar19, roller bearings 22 located on the other side of the bar 19 may beprovided. Movement of the housing 18 relative to the such as bythe linksl1 areA formed.

bushing'surrounding the bolts14, the links trolley pole crank levers arerotated and the arms 16 fitbetween lugs or ears of the links throughwhich the bolts 14 extend to connect the links 11 and 13, the ends ofthe arms ,16 being provided with substantially semi-cylindrical.recesses for fitting the bushings surrounding lthe bolts 14 and inbetween the ears formed on the ends of the links 13. The lengths of thelinks 13 are such as to extend betweenr the outer ends of the arms 15and 16. When, therefore, the links 11are drawn.

rearwardly, the arms 16V are first Operated upon to rotate the gearwheel 20 and when the arm 16 leaves orris about to leave the 11 operateupon the links 13 which` are connected to the ends of the arms 15y tocause further rotation of the gear wheel` 20. The rotation of the gearwheel 20 operating upon.

- the rack 21, draws the housing 18 forward.

The links may be drawn rearward to thus draw the housing 18 forward bypulling the 8 .down which will cause the arms 9 to pull on the links 11.The housing18 is connected by meansot arms25 and the .springsA '26 toarms 27 kformed on the frame 7. When the housing 18 is in itslforwardmost position thesprings 26 are' under tension and will, if thetrolley pole is v released, raise the trolley pole so that connectionmay be made with the trolley wire, and will, moreover, maintain contactbetween the trolley wheel and the trolley wire. When, however, thetrolley pole is raised, the linksll may be returned in the forwarddirection. I have, however, provided slots 28 located in the ends of thelinks 11 through which the bolts 10 extend so as to allow a certain`amount of movement of the bolts 10 and consequently .of the arms 9 alongthe linksl 11. f

During the upward movement of the pole 8 by the operation of the springs26 the housing 18 yis, secured initsforward position. The housing 18visprovided with a right angulararm 29 that is bifurcated and is pivotallysupported on the sha'ftl? and between `the-bell crank levers andthe housing .18( TheA right angular arm 29 is 'pro-k vided with a vdog 30 thatis locatedabove the bar 19.Y `The bar 19.is provided with ratchet teeth31 and inpositionto be engaged Vby the dog 30 so that when the hous-Y:ing 18 is `forced to its forward position, the

dog 30 engages the rack 31 to hold in that position and thusV holds thesprings 26 under tension to raise the pole'and maintain contact betweenthe trolley wheel and the trolley wire.

The right angular arm 29 is provided with a bolt 32 which extendsthrough a slotted bar 33. The bar 33 Vis supported-in standards or arms34 formed on the housing or frame 3. The bar is spring pressedrearwardly by means of the spring 35 which operates between one ofthearms 34 and a sleeve 36 that is threaded onto one end of the bar 33.The sleeve 36 forms a bushing that moves in the rear arm 34. The sleeve36V thus forms an adjustable stop as well as a bearing for the bar 33.The sleeve 36 is locked in its adjusted position by means of a nut 37.The slot 38 through which the bolt 32 extends is provided with sidesthat have their ends inclined downward so as'to form a cam to lower thebolt 32 and consequently the pivoted arm 29. The cam slot thus lowersthe dog 3() forming a part of the arm 29 to permit it to engage with theratchet `31 when the ybolt 32 reaches'the end 390i the slot 38. 1f,however, the rod 33 isk pushed forward the .cam slot Vwill raise thebolt 32 andthe dog 30 and release'the dog 30 from the ratchet 31 whichwill permit the housing 18vr toy move rearwardly by the operation of thesprings 26.

The endof the rod33 is provided with a knob 40 which is threaded on tothe end of v the rodVV and the frame? is provided with a V43an'd movesafshorty distance above the trolley wire 43 by the `operation ot theVsprings 26,v the lug 41 strikes the knob 40, moves the rod 33forwardagainst the springs 35 and causes the cam slot 3,8 to operateupon the bolt 32 and thedog 30 to immediately release the housing 18which under the op: eration of the springs 26 moves forward and Y allowsthepole 8'to drop to such a. position thatvthe trolley wheel 42 will beheld mid-V way between of, the car, A shown Vin Fig. 3. Y `V\7hen thetrolley pole drops thus to a pointA beneatlrthe "trolley wire 43 thebolt-s 10 move alongthe slots 28 to the outer ends off the links 11whichsupports the trolley pole in this position below the trolleywire.-V

To restore theV theftrolley pole 8vis pulled downfby 'means thetrolleykpole in the manner well known in 'the trolleyY wire 43 and theltop that is, `to. about the position tensionV of the springs 26 itheart; This downward Vmovement .ofthev trolley pole 8 causes `.the arms9 to pull Aon therli'nks 11 which operateV upon the arms 16 andsubsequently on the arms l5 to cause rotation of the gear wheel 2O andthus the housing 18 is forced back against the tension of the springs 26until the dog 30 again engages the ratchet 3l which occurs when the bolt32 reaches the end of the cam slot 38. rl`he springs 26 having beenplaced under tension, the ends thereof having been drawn apart in themanner described, the connection between vthe trolley wheel and the wiremay be reestablished.

I claim 1. In an automatic trolley retriever, a trolley pole, a springmember connected to the trolley pole, a rack and pinion forincreasingthe tension of the spring for rais ing the pole to the wire and operatedby movement of the trolley pole, a means for locking the rack and pinionin their relative positions, and means for releasing the locking meanswhen the trolley wheel leaves the wire.

2. In an automatic trolley retriever, a trolley pole, a spring memberconnected to the trolley pole, a rack and pinion for increasing thetension of the spring for raising the pole to the wire and operated bymovement of the trolley pole, a ratchet and dog for locking the pinionand rack in their relative positions and means for releasing the dogfrom the ratchet when the trolley wheel leaves the trolley wire.

3. In an automatic trolley retriever, a spring member connected to thetrolley pole, a gearing having one of the gears connected to the springmember Jfor increasing the tension of the spring member to raise thetrolley pole to the wire and operated by movement of the trolley pole,and means for locking the gearing in their relative positions.

4. In an automatic trolley retriever, a spring member connected to thetrolley pole, a gearing having one of the gears connected to the springmember for increasing the tension of the spring member to raise thetrolley pole to the wire and operated by movement of the trolley pole,means for locking the gearing in their relative positions, and means forunlockingl the gearing when the trolley leaves the trolley wire.

5. In an automatic trolley retriever, a spring member connected to thetrolley pole, a gearing having one of the gears connected to the springmember for increasing the tension of the spring member to raise thetrolley pole to the wire and operated by movement ot the trolley pole,means for locking the gearing in their relative positions, means forunlocking the gearing when the trolley leaves the trolley wire, andmeans for operating the gearing to restore the tension of the wire by amovement of the pole.

6. In an automatic trolley retriever, a

to th spring member connected to the trolley pole, a gearing having oneof the gears connected to the spring member for increasing the tensionof the spring member to raise the trolley pole to the wire and operatedby movement of the trolleyV pole, means for locking the gearing in theirrelative positions, means for unlocking the gearing when the trolleyleaves the trolley wire, and means for operating the gearing to restorethe tension of thl wire by downward movement of the po e.

7. In an automatic trolley retriever, a trolley pole, a spring havingone end permanently connected to the trolley pole, a frame, a rackconnected to the other end of the spring, a gear wheel located in theframe and operating on the rack for increasing the tension of the springand operated by lowering the trolley pole.

8. In an automatic trolley retriever, a trolley pole, a spring memberconnected to the trolley pole, a pinion, means for connecting the pinionto the spring member, a rack. and means for shifting the pinion alongthe rack for increasing the tension of the spring member to raise thetrolley pole to the wire.

9. In an automatic trolley retriever, a supporting member, a trolleypole pivoted e supporting member, a rack connected to the supportingmember, a pinion movable over the said rack, a spring connected to thetrolley pole, a member for connecting the said spring with the pinion,an arm connected to the said pinion, a link operative on the said armand connected to the said trolley pole for causing movement of thepinion and member away from the trolley pole, a dog connected to thesaid member .for engaging the said rack, means operated by the trolleypole for releasing the dog to release the tension of the spring and toper mit the pole to drop from the trolley wire.

10. In an automatic trolley retriever, a supporting member, a trolleypole pivoted to the supporting member, a rack connected to thesupporting member, a pinion movable over the said rack, a housing forcontaining the pinion, a spring connected to the said housing and to thetrolley pole, arms connected to the said pinion, links operative on thesaid arms in succession and connected to the said trolley pole forcausing movement of the pinion and housing away from the trolley pole, adog for interengaging the said rack and housing, a spring pressed memberoperated by the trolley pole when the trolley wheel leaves a wire forreleasing the dog.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

ADRIAN C. VAN HOOYDONK.

